Three people were hospitalized after a Laurelton lawn dispute turned violent Thursday.
NEW YORK — A neighborhood dispute in Queens escalated Thursday after a French bulldog urinated on a lawn, ending with three people stabbed or slashed and a 34-year-old man charged with assault, police said.
The incident began during a dog walk on 229th Street in Laurelton. Police said a couple’s French bulldog relieved itself on a neighbor’s property. What started as an argument between neighbors became a physical fight after two men came from the home and appeared on surveillance video to urinate on the couple’s yard in response.
Police said the confrontation became violent soon after. The suspect is accused of cutting the woman’s hand and stabbing her boyfriend in the back. Investigators said the suspect’s father, 62, was also slashed in the hand when he became involved in the fight. Authorities said the father may have been hurt accidentally during the melee.
All three injured people were taken to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center and were listed in stable condition. Police said the suspect also had cuts but was not seriously hurt. The names of the couple and the father were not immediately released. Some local reports identified the accused man as Akeem Alexander, 34.
The attack happened shortly before 11 a.m. near 141st Avenue, in a section of Laurelton lined with homes and small lawns. Surveillance video captured parts of the dispute, though police have not released a full public timeline. Investigators were still working to confirm who first made physical contact and how the knife became part of the fight.
The suspect faces three assault counts. Police did not immediately announce additional charges Friday. Court information, including arraignment timing and attorney information, was not available in the first reports. Investigators were expected to use video, witness statements and medical records as the case moves forward.
The case centered on a brief moment during a routine dog walk that turned into a violent neighborhood confrontation. Police said the dog was not reported hurt. The injuries to the three adults were not considered life-threatening, but the stabbing left the block shaken and drew officers to the residential street.
The investigation remained active Friday, with the suspect in custody on assault charges and the injured people recovering. The next public update is expected through court records or police charging documents.
Author note: Last updated April 24, 2026.